Introduced in a lid-seal of metal containers for powder food or others

ABSTRACT

An “IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN A LID-SEAL OF METAL CONTAINERS FOR POWDER FOOD OR OTHERS” constituted by fixing, through a beading process in the upper edge of a metal container ( 1 ) made of sheet metal with the set formed by a plastic membrane ( 2 ) forming a peripheral portion ( 9 ), followed internally of a recess with ring like recess ( 10 ) and a perimetral ring like reinforcement ( 11 ) and with a lower ring shaped thin line for the breaking ( 12 ) when pulled, after the breaking of the short breaking portion ( 13 ) of the incorporated pulling ring ( 14 ) and a stamped metal ring ( 3 ) forming a flat inner section ( 4 ) with a central circular opening ( 5 ) with the inner edge beaded inwards ( 6 ) and an elevation to form an upper bed ( 7 ) and a peripheral edge turned downwards ( 8 ) so that, jointly with the peripheral portion ( 9 ) of the membrane ( 2 ) be beaded in the container ( 1 ), the development of which has the purpose of obtaining a seal-lid assuring the necessary sealing and the consequent quality of the packaged product, and the certainty that there will not be any possibility of hurting the fingers, upon the opening.

[0001] This descriptive report is related to the patent of invention for improvement in seal/lid of metal containers for powder foodstuff or other material, the development of which has as purpose to develop a lid-seal which assures the necessary tightness, the consequent quality of the packaged product, and the conviction that there will be no possibility of harming the fingers, upon its opening.

[0002] Several types of foodstuff are known which, in order to increase their useful life, allow the use of a process for the elimination of water from its composition, so that they may be converted into powder, such as powder milk and others, avoiding the contact with aerobic bacteria hat may, many times, be kept at room temperature for several years. Said packaging material are many times made out of tinned iron sheet cut, calendered and welded, with the bottom being sealed by a beaded disc of the same material, sealed with an aluminum sheet together with the ring which serves as pressure lead, known as Easy open, with said seal allowing the foodstuff to be totally sealed, and which will be opened only for final consumption.

[0003] The above mentioned cylinder shaped metal packaging and respective seals form a process well known for decades which is used by different manufacturers of powder milk, milk products, chocolate flavors, and others.

[0004] Some manufacturers use a cylindrical packaging material made out of semi-rigid plastic material which after the introduction of the product within it, receives an aluminum laminated seal which is hot sealed, receiving a flexible plastic material secondary cover, fitted under pressure which, after taking the seal off, shall be used as the lid of the package, a cheaper solution than the one previously mentioned. The problem is in the possibility of the welding used for sealing not being perfect, allowing the entering of aerobic bacteria which could affect the quality of the product.

[0005] In the patent now requested, the improvement made in the lid-seal, for metal packages of powder food or others material, is constituted by a construction where the closing of the metal package or, as commonly known by the public, the can, is made by a kit formed by an injected plastic membrane (PEBD) with a peripheral border, an applied ring like thin breaking line and an incorporated traction ring, plus a upper ring like depression to receive a stamped laminar ring, made in metal sheet the inner border of which is drawn and bent so that its cutting edge remains hidden, with the outside edge of said set fixed on the upper edge of the body of said packing material by beading operation, with said laminar ring having an internal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said thin line of the plastic membrane in order to act as a support and to help in the braking of said line, when the user pulls the ring to open the package. The closing of the package will be made by the above mentioned plastic over lid which follows this type of package.

[0006] It should be noticed that the extracted portion upon the opening of the package is the central part of the plastic membrane, which does not offer any risk of cutting the fingers, and may be discarded without any other worries. Another advantage is in the fact that, considering that there was no breaking of the metal part, there will be no oxidation.

[0007] As it is also possible to notice, the production cost of said elements is substantially less than when aluminum laminate material is used, and it also increases the productivity, due to the production automation, therefore helping the company in their constant search for production cost reduction.

[0008] For a better understanding of the object of this patent, reference to the attached drawings will be made, where:

[0009]FIG. 1—shows an upper view of the laminar stamped metal ring;

[0010]FIG. 2—shows a longitudinal cross section along the line A-A′ of the stamped metal laminar ring;

[0011]FIG. 3—shows a vertical cross section of the “B” detail of the stamped metal laminar ring;

[0012]FIG. 4—shows an upper view of the injected plastic membrane, especially the incorporated pulling ring and the thin breaking line;

[0013]FIG. 5—shows the C-C′ longitudinal line, the injected plastic membrane, specially the incorporated pulling ring;

[0014]FIG. 6—shows the vertical cross section of detail “D” of the injected plastic membrane, noticing the incorporated pulling ring attached by a breaking small portion, the seat for said metal ring and the breaking thin line with a reinforcement along it;

[0015]FIG. 7—shows a vertical cross section of the detail of the metal ring on the plastic membrane to be mounted on the mouth of the metal container, to be beaded;

[0016]FIG. 8—shows, in an upper view, the metal container with the plastic membrane and the beaded metal laminar ring;

[0017]FIG. 9—shows a lateral view of the cylindrical metal container (or can) with the upper beading portion which fixes the ring and the membrane, sealing the container;

[0018]FIG. 10—shows a partial cross section of the “F” detail, the plastic membrane which received the beaded metal laminar ring on the edge of the container sealing it and;

[0019]FIG. 11—shows the detail of the braking of the seal-lid for the opening of the container for the consumption of the product.

[0020] This present Patent of Invention for “IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN A LID-SEAL OF METAL CONTAINERS FOR POWDER FOOD OR OTHERS” is constituted by bead fixing on the upper edge of the metal container (1) made of metal sheet and a set formed by a plastic membrane (2), a metal ring (3), with said metal ring (3) being stamped to form a flat inner section (4) with a central circular opening (5) with the inner edge beaded and bend inward (6) and an elevation to form the lower bed (7) and ended by a peripheral border turned down and slightly inward (8) for later beading operation, with said membrane (2) made of injected plastic forming a peripheral portion (9) which will fit the bed (7) for beading on the border of the container (1), followed internally of a recess with ring like recess (10) where the flat inner section fits (4) with the inner edge bent inwards (6) of the metal ring (3) followed internally by a perimetral ring like reinforcement (11) and with a lower ring shaped thin line for the breaking (12) when pulled, after the breaking of the short breaking portion (13) of the incorporated pulling ring (14) which, upon being pulled by the fingers, breaks the membrane (2) along the thin line (12) and frees the central part (15). 

1. An “IMPROVEMENT INTRODUCED IN A LID-SEAL OF METAL CONTAINERS FOR POWDER FOOD OR Others” constituted by fixing, through a beading process in the upper edge of a metal container (1) made of sheet metal with the set formed by a plastic membrane (2) and a metal ring (3) characterized by the fact that said metal ring (3) is stamped to form a flat inner section (4) with a central upper opening (5) with the inner edge beaded and bend inward (6) and an elevation to form the lower bed (7) and ended by a peripheral border turned down and slightly inward (8) for later beading operation, with said membrane (2) made of injected plastic forming a peripheral portion (9) which will fit the bed (7) for beading on the border of the container (1), followed internally of a recess with ring like recess (10) where the flat inner section fits (4) with the inner edge bent inwards (6) of the metal ring (3) followed internally by a perimetral ring like reinforcement (11) and with a lower ring shaped thin line for the breaking (12) when pulled, after the breaking of the short breaking portion (13) of the incorporated pulling ring (14) which, upon being pulled by the fingers, breaks the membrane (2) along the thin line (12) and frees the central part (15). 